U.S. border guards can search Canadian cellphones without a warrant due to a new court ruling.

4 sources · 4 support

What we can confirm

The claim is supported by a September 17, 2026 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which held that border agents may search an international traveler's cellphone without a warrant or reasonable suspicion. The ruling applies within the Second Circuit, including New York, Connecticut, and Vermont; it supports the practical claim for Canadian travelers entering through those jurisdictions, but does not establish a nationwide rule for every U.S. border crossing.